by Janet Nudelman, MA and Sharima Rasanayagam, PhD THE GIST What is the problem? Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical used in the lining of many food and beverage cans. Studies have shown that BPA can leach from the lining of cans into the food and then into people. Growing consumer concern over … Read more…

By Maija Witte The Unilever family is made up of some of the most popular and recognizable brands in the world. With brands like Caress, Axe, Degree, Suave, St. Ives and Dove, Unilever products are often considered to be safe, trustworthy and great for the whole family. Over the years, Unilever has developed ambitious social … Read more…

Looking for some last minute gift ideas or stocking stuffers? We’ve got you covered! The Breast Cancer Fund is pleased to present our holiday gift guide highlighting our partners who support us year round. Prefer to shop from the comfort of your computer? If you sign up for the AmazonSmile program, .05% of every purchase … Read more…

Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a list of the initial 10 chemicals that the agency will review for safety under the new Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) law. Issuing the list starts the clock for EPA evaluation of the safety of these high priority chemicals, and implementation of steps to protect the … Read more…

For all Americans, and I dare say the world, the November 8th presidential election in this country casts a shadow or a light on this traditional American holiday when we are called to give thanks. I’m writing today with gratitude for the determination of our dedicated staff and all who support us as we navigate … Read more…

Welcome friends, to Breast Cancer Awareness Month, when pink ribbons cover everything from toxic cosmetics to BPA-lined food cans, urging us to be aware of breast cancer. When 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with the disease, how much more awareness do we need? The Breast Cancer Fund is working to shift the conversation from … Read more…

We sent face paints and kids’ cosmetics to the lab to find out what might be lurking in these products. After extensive label reading, we tested 48 Halloween products for the presence of heavy metals and 65 kids’ makeup products—collected by 14 partners across the country—for volatile organic compounds (VOCs). We found the widespread presence … Read more…

It’s always an exciting, yet daunting moment when testing results come back from the lab. These days, they arrive via email, in a pdf report, which we open with baited breath, wondering if the lab found anything; and if so, if there is a coherent story to tell. If you’ve been following our kids’ makeup … Read more…

Earlier this month, colleagues from around the country scoured toy aisles across the country for kids’ products containing fragrance or ingredients made with the chemical styrene (see table below). Now, the 51 products they purchased are at an independent, certified laboratory to be tested for volatile organic compounds (VOC’s). We’ve also sent more than 14 … Read more…

In 2009, we sent 10 Halloween makeup kits to a lab to test for heavy metals. We suspected these products could contain heavy metals due to the substantial pigmentation in the products. Very sensitive tests revealed low levels of lead in 100 percent of the products. Further, half of the products contained chromium, four contained … Read more…